Automotive Industries, Ltd. is an Israel

Israel

The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...

i Automaker

Automaker

The automotive industry designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells motor vehicles, and is one of the world's most important economic sectors by revenue....

 and major supplier of the Israeli Security Forces

Israeli Security Forces

Security forces in Israel include a variety of organizations, including law enforcement, military, paramilitary, governmental, and intelligence agencies.-Military:...

.

Located in Nazareth Illit

Nazareth Illit

Nazareth Illit is a city in the North District of Israel. At the end of 2007 it had a population of 40,800.Nazareth Illit was founded in the 1950s. Foundations were laid in 1954 and first residents moved in two years later...

, the company was originally founded in 1966 by Automotive Equipment Group as a plant for the assembly of cars and trucks. AIL has since gone on to increase its role in the vehicle's manufacture, doing much of the work on several early Willys MB

Willys MB

The Willys MB US Army Jeep and the Ford GPW, were manufactured from 1941 to 1945. These small four-wheel drive utility vehicles are considered the iconic World War II Jeep, and inspired many similar light utility vehicles. Over the years, the World War II Jeep later evolved into the "CJ" civilian...

-derivatives, as well as the more recent M462

M462

The M462 is a 4x4 military vehicle in service with the Israel Defence Forces, developed by Automotive Industries Ltd. as a replacement for the M325.-Specifications:The M462 can carry 13 troops or a cargo of 1800 kg...

 trucks and AIL Storm

AIL Storm

The AIL Storm is an Israeli manufactured off-road vehicle and the workhorse of the Israeli Security Forces. The series of Jeep Wrangler based vehicles have been produced by Automotive Industries Ltd. in Upper Nazareth under licence from Chrysler since 1990...

 (Sufa) series of Jeep Wrangler

Jeep Wrangler

The Jeep Wrangler is a subcompact four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle and an off-road vehicle manufactured by American automaker Chrysler, under its Jeep marque – and now in its fourth generation. It is a successor to the famous World War II 'Jeep' vehicle by way of the Willys civilian...

-derivatives, and the AIL Desert Raider. AIL was also an assembly-point for IDF

Israel Defense Forces

The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...

-bound Humvee

High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle

The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle , better known as the Humvee, is a military 4WD motor vehicle created by AM General. It has largely supplanted the roles formerly served by smaller Jeeps such as the M151 MUTT, the M561 "Gama Goat", their M718A1 and M792 ambulance versions, the CUCV,...

s, but US foreign aid guarantees caused contracts to be moved to plants in the United States.

AIL is currently developing the Storm III and was set to begin mass-production in August 2008.

Models

• Willys MB
  Willys MB
  The Willys MB US Army Jeep and the Ford GPW, were manufactured from 1941 to 1945. These small four-wheel drive utility vehicles are considered the iconic World War II Jeep, and inspired many similar light utility vehicles. Over the years, the World War II Jeep later evolved into the "CJ" civilian...
  
   [assembly] – (1966–1983)
• AIL M325 Commandcar
• AIL Abir – (1966–1987)
• AIL Storm
  AIL Storm
  The AIL Storm is an Israeli manufactured off-road vehicle and the workhorse of the Israeli Security Forces. The series of Jeep Wrangler based vehicles have been produced by Automotive Industries Ltd. in Upper Nazareth under licence from Chrysler since 1990...
  
   – (1987–present)
• HMMWV
  High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle
  The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle , better known as the Humvee, is a military 4WD motor vehicle created by AM General. It has largely supplanted the roles formerly served by smaller Jeeps such as the M151 MUTT, the M561 "Gama Goat", their M718A1 and M792 ambulance versions, the CUCV,...
  
   [assembly]
• AIL Desert Raider – (1998–present)

External links

• AIL Official page
• Automotive Industries Ltd. on Global Auto Index
• Automotive Industries Ltd. military products page
• civilian products on parent Automotive Equipment & Vehicles
• Desert Raider at Israel Export & International Cooperative Institute